1864 $3.00 NGC MS62 CAC

One of just 2,630 struck and the second rarest Civil War Three Dollar gold piece after the 1865. This is a beautiful, crisp example with lovely yellow-gold and rose color atop highly lustrous surfaces. As on all known business strikes of this date there are some vertical striations as made but the luster and "flash" of the surfaces make these very unobtrusive. A few tiny marks at the lower obverse are really all that keep this from a much higher grade and it is a coin of uncommon appeal for the date. The last MS62 to appear at auction was back in March 2009 and only five pieces in this grade have sold at auction since 2004. Only one other 1864 Three Dollar in MS62 has received CAC approval. Great value at current levels as are so many dates in this series.

1854-S $20.00 NGC AU55

Not many non-specialists are aware of this but the 1854-S is one of the hardest Type One double eagles to find with original color and surfaces. There are dozens of 1854-S double eagles graded AU55 and higher but virtually all are from the S.S. Yankee Blade shipwreck and have seawater surfaces. I have only personally seen or handled two or three Uncirculated 1854-S double eagles that were original (none were better than MS61) and the present example is one of the two or three best circulated pieces that I have seen or owned. It shows lovely deep green-gold color with darker highlights. My guess is that it was found in Europe and somehow has escaped the conservation that has befallen most of the non-shipwreck examples of this date. Yes, it's expensive (I had to really pay up for it!) but if you are a very savvy buyer of Type One double eagles you know how rare and important this coin is.

1854-S $10.00 NGC AU53

Although it isn't a rare coin, I have always liked the 1854-S eagle as it is the first year of issue for the San Francisco mint and it has great Gold Rush connotations. While dozens have been graded AU53 to AU55, few of these have original color and surfaces and this example is very pleasing for the grade with deep orange-gold and rose hues. Although a bit "ticky" from rough handling in commerce, this piece has quite a bit of sharpness and it has the appearance of a coin that grades higher. Even if you don't collect eagles, this is a neat issue to own and one that should be in any collection of branch mint gold.

1808 $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

BD-4, Rarity-3. Normal Date, Wide 5D. A choice, original mid-range AU example with nice medium to deep green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. There is some underlying luster and the strike is excellent with sharp centers and borders. There are no adjustment marks or pesky abrasions; a small reverse scratch below the motto is faint and hard to see without a 5x glass. This coin is certainly as nice as many that I see in AU55 holders and with just a bit more luster it would clearly have graded higher. This is about the nicest available Capped Bust Left half eagle that one is likely to find for less than $10,000 and it would make a great type coin for the collector who appreciates original early gold.

1846-D/D $5.00 NGC EF45

Incorrectly labelled on the holder as an "1846-D" by NGC; it is clearly an 1846-D/D. A pleasing coin for the grade with medium to deep reddish-gold color on the obverse and reverse. There are two small toning spots in the upper left obverse field and a small reverse rim bump at 4:00 that is easy to overlook. This is one of my favorite branch mint varieties and the overmintmark is so bold that it can be easily seen with the naked eye.

1799 Large Reverse Stars $5.00 NGC MS61

Large Reverse Stars. BD-8, Rarity-6. Dannreuther estimates that just 22 to 30 are known. Extremely late die state with extensive reverse cracks that are more developed than those described by Bass. This is both an interesting and very rare early half eagle. The obverse is a light green-gold and shows some roughness in the planchet as made; the reverse is more vibrant and yellow-gold in hue. As mentioned, the obverse fields have some roughness (reminiscent of a 1796 eagle) in the planchet and there is a shallow void as made on the face; the reverse is superb and would grade MS63 or better on its own. The 1799 Large Stars is a rare coin in all grades with probably fewer than 75-85 known. In higher grades, it is very rare and it is a solid R-7 in Uncirculated. Only three auction records exist for MS61's since 1979 and all are NGC coins; the latest is Heritage 9/08: 3577 at a strong $40,250. If you are a serious collector of early U.S. gold, you are aware of the significance of this offering.

1799 Small Reverse Stars $5.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

Small Reverse Stars. BD-2, High Rarity-5. Dannreuther estimates that only 35-435 examples are known of this variety; Bass owned just one which was not as nice as this example. There were a good number of early half eagles available at the ANA show but this was one of my very favorites; at least from the standpoint of its 18th century issuance. This coin is as fresh as you can imagine with vibrant frosty luster and lovely natural yellow-gold color. It is extremely well struck for both the date and variety with great eye appeal. The surfaces show just a few light marks and, interestingly, the obverse is actually choicer than the reverse with the look of an MS63. As a date, the 1799 is scarcer than the 1798 and it is actually less available (albeit less popular) than the higher-priced 1795. The last PCGS MS62 1799 Small Stars half eagle to appear at auction was B+M 11/09: 3667 which sold for $43,700. In my opinion, this example is choicer and much more "crisp" in appearance. Here's an interesting point to consider. A nice PCGS MS62 1795 Small Eagle half eagle is worth around $100,000 in today's market. PCGS has graded twenty two examples in this grade with fifteen better. A 1799 Small Stars has a population of eleven in this grade with ten better but it is priced at less than half the amount of the 1795. Clearly the 1795 should be worth more but twice as much? A great early half eagle.

1892-CC $20.00 NGC AU58

This choice slider example is nearly free of wear but there is just a slight amount of friction on the high spots of the obverse. Both sides are free of significant marks and there is some nice light rose color. I saw two MS60 examples of this date trade at ANA for around $8,000 each and both were heavily abraded.

1884-CC $5.00 PCGS AU50

There are just five half eagles from this decade made at the Carson City mint. The 1880-CC and 1882-CC are common while the 1883-CC and 1884-CC are moderately scarce and the 1881-CC is very scarce to rare. The 1884-CC is a real rarity in Uncirculated and for most collectors a nice AU is about as choice as they can wish for. Many 1884-CC half eagles graded AU50 to AU55 are bright and unoriginal and this is one of the few "ultra-dirty" examples that I have seen. It was recently found in Europe and graded by PCGS at their Paris office. The surfaces show deep green-gold color that is accentuated by underlying rose and orange-gold hues. There have been no auction records for this date in PCGS AU50 since September 2008 and only five total since 2000. A special coin for the sophisticated Carson City collector.